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Philippe Gilbert wins a dramatic 101st Tour of Flanders

Quick Step Floors rider attacks with 55 kilometres remain to take a memorable solo victory

Philippe Gilbert of Quick Step Floors has won a dramatic 101st edition of the Tour of Flanders after launching a solo attack  with 55 kilometres to go and digging deep into his reserves of energy to win by nearly half a minute from his closest pursuers.

Greg van Avermaet of BMC Racing won the sprint for second from Gilbert's team mate Niki Terpstra, with the other member of a three-man chase group, Cannondale-Drapac's Dylan van Baarle, fourth.

A crash on the Oude Kwaremont with about 15km to go when he appeared to hit a crash barrier while trying to avoid the cobbles put paid to the chances of defending champion Peter Sagan of Bora-Hansgrohe, and also brought down van Avermaet.

Tom Boonen of Quick Step Floors, riding  for the last time the race he has won on three occasions, had earlier been ruled out of contention by a mechanical issue that saw him distanced from the group chasing his team mate Gilbert, his frustration evident to see.

Gilbert, who came into the race in a rich vein of form after winning the Three Days of De Panne this week, has now won three of cycling's five Monuments, following victories at Il Lombardia in 2009 and 2010, and Liege-Bastonge-Liege in 2011. He also won the road world championship in 2012.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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peted76 | 6 years ago
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I think that they were bringing him back, the gap closed by 10secs after Sagans group put the hammer down and I think Gilbert slowed at the end, it 'could' have been very close, but ultimaltey either way I think Gilberts gap was too much and would have won it.. he's on flying form and a very deserving winner. This years quick step team is very strong! 

 

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check12 | 6 years ago
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Gilbert went up the other side of the cobbles Sagan crashed on, a shame as Sagan and van A would have brought Gilbert back and had a good sprint. 

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jasecd replied to check12 | 6 years ago
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check12 wrote:

Gilbert went up the other side of the cobbles Sagan crashed on, a shame as Sagan and van A would have brought Gilbert back and had a good sprint. 

 

Maybe or maybe not - they weren't really closing the gap and he could have well stayed away. A few things went in Gilbert's favour but it's one of the most stunning victories that I've seen and fully deserved.

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gforce | 6 years ago
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Only 9 seconds too slow for my Rapha entry...  2

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Grahamd | 6 years ago
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Good result, but 3 minutes too slow for my Rapha entry.

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tritecommentbot | 6 years ago
2 likes

Most inspiring effort of 2017 so far for me.

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700c | 6 years ago
6 likes

Awesome to see him back in form. Incredible victory.

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